Bollywood Divas concert off this year’s calendar

The Bollywood Divas Mega Concert has been postponed for the fourth time, owing to the bad weather and the artistes’ hesitance about travel to Guyana after reports of potential post-election disturbances, according to organizer Chandini Ramnarain.

The show, which was initially slated for October 29, was being organized by Lux Entertainment and was subsequently postponed to November 19, after artistes experienced difficulties in acquiring in-transit visas.

However, after this issue was resolved, the concert was again given a new date; December 26, Boxing Day, but this new arrangement was also subsequently cancelled.

Ramnarain told Stabroek News yesterday that the plan now is to host the show at the Providence Stadium in 2012. “A number of factors contributed to this decision.

These include the onset of the December rains.

We do not wish to have any of our supporters miss this once in a lifetime event because of inclement weather,” Ramnarain said in a brief statement.  She indicated that all tickets can be refunded at the location where they were bought, adding that new tickets will be printed for the 2012 concert. Current tickets, she said, will be invalid.

“We at Lux entertainment give our promise to the Guyanese public that the artistes will be performing in Guyana, at the National Stadium in 2012. We would like to thank the public and the Government of Guyana for their continuing support,” she added.

Ramnarain stated that the new date will be announced later as she apologized for any convenience caused.

Scheduled to perform at the event were Indian playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, best known for her songs in films such as Desi Girls, Sheila Ki Jawani, Aaja Nachle and Mere Mehboob and actress Neha Dhupia, who appeared in supporting roles in multiple critically and commercially acclaimed films like Chup Chup Ke, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Mithya, Maharathi, Singh is King, and Dasvidaniya.

These two headlining acts were supposed to be accompanied by Indian actress and model Riya Sen, who began her acting career in 1991 as a child in the film Vishkanya.

Her first commercial success was Style, while some of her other films include Hinglish, Shaadi No 1, and horror film Ananthabhadram.

Rakshanda Khan, a former model, television actress and anchor who is better known for her role as Mallika Seth in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi“, and popular Indian soap opera, “Kasamh Se,“ was scheduled to be the show’s emcee.